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Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Interior-Environment Spending Bill: Update

Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Interior-Environment Spending Bill: Update

2016-07-28

Congress has left Washington to begin its seven-week recess, but before leaving, the House passed by a vote of 231-196 mostly along party lines, H.R. 5532, the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies spending bill. The measure would provide increased funding for the National Park Service (NPS) system and NPS Centennial activities. The legislation would also make significant cuts to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate change and other environmental programs.

The House measure provides a total of $2.9 billion for NPS activities and programs including:

$2.435 billion for management, operation, and maintenance of areas and facilities and general administration of the NPS, a $39 million increase from FY 2016.

$145.8 million for LWCF federal land acquisition and $80 million for LWCF state assistance, $88.4 million and $30 million less than FY 2016, respectively.

$30 million for NPS Centennial Challenge projects and programs, $5 million less than the administration’s budget request.

$78.4 million for Historic Preservation activities, a $13 million increase from FY 2016.

ASLA has been advocating for increased funding for Centennial Challenge activities, which recognizes the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service this year. In May 2016, ASLA leaders went to Capitol Hill for ASLA Advocacy Day to meet with their legislators about providing increased funding for Centennial Challenge activities. Since the inception of the NPS, landscape architects have played a critical role in its creation, protection, growth, and development. ASLA will continue to monitor the FY2017 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill in both chambers to ensure adequate funding is available for NPS’s Centennial Challenge and other ASLA priorities.